By Jane L. Fryar
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God” (Luke 9:20 ESV).
Ask a first-grade Sunday school class, “What’s Jesus’ last name?” You’ll probably get puzzled looks at first. Then, if you wait for a response, you might hear this answer: “Christ?”
It’s logical, given the way our society uses surnames. Nevertheless, it’s incorrect. Both the names Christ (in Greek) and Messiah (in Hebrew) mean roughly “The Anointed One.” These words are not truly names, but instead, titles we sometimes use as names.
In Old Testament times, the “anointed ones” were the prophets, priests, and kings who served God’s people. During a ritual similar to an inauguration or ordination today, oil was use to depict the Lord’s promise to empower his servant. Exodus 30 even provides a recipe for the oil. Psalm 133:1–2 hints at what the ceremony may have been like.
All this pointed forward to the Christ, our promised Messiah, who would be the ultimate fulfillment of all three anointed offices—prophet, priest, and king.
Christ Jesus served (and still serves) as God’s anointed prophet. During his earthly ministry, Christ taught the Word of God with authority and power. He continues to speak to us through the Holy Scriptures still today. God promises this about his Messiah:
I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him (Deuteronomy 18:18 ESV).
Christ Jesus served (and still serves) as God’s anointed priest. He sacrificed not bulls or goats but himself upon the cross as the one final, perfect offering for sin. God promises this about his Messiah:
He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (Hebrews 9:26 ESV).
Christ Jesus served (and still serves) as God’s anointed king. He rules graciously and in compassion right now for the good of his Church, his family on earth. One day soon, he will come again in glory to receive us into his eternal kingdom where our joy will never end. God describes our Messiah’s return in these words:
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16 ESV).
Christ is our prophet; we listen eagerly to hear and obey every word God speaks to us. Christ is our priest; we treasure his sacrifice on our behalf and honor him for it, both now and forever. Christ is our king; we give thanks for his gracious rule and trust him to use every detail of our lives to bring about his glory and our good.
